Programming Holes on an

Arc or Bolt Circle

Arcs and Bolt Circle Patterns

 Calculating Hole Positions on an Arc

• The method for calculating hole positions is not very complicated but
somewhat tedious.
• It is still just the same method that we used in the first lesson, but this time
the angle changes for each hole
• If the calculations were started from the hole at three o'clock, (or the one
closest to it in a counter- clockwise rotation) then the increased angle value
for each hole will still yield a proper X,Y coordinate for any hole in the
pattern.
Holes on an Arc- Example
 Holes on an Arc- Coordinates
Use the drawing from the previous page to calculate the X and Y coordinates of
each hole position and write them in this table

X Y X Y
A I
B J
C K
D L
E M
F N
G O
H
 Calculating Bolt Patterns
• Bolt patterns on circular parts where the center of the pattern is also the
origin
• A bolt pattern is a complete circle of holes around an origin with equally
spaced holes, the holes can number based on the needs of the part, all that
is needed is to divide 360° by the number of equally spaced holes, this will
give the "angle of separation" between holes
• The holes are situated on a center line described by a "Bolt Circle Diameter"
(BCD), this is a common way to specify the distance from the center of the
pattern to the center of the holes around the origin.
• The radius of the BCD is the actual distance required for the calculations.
• The coordinate calculations use the same method as the previous
exercise. If the calculations are started from hole "A" (3 o'clock position) and
rotate counter-clockwise (CCW)
then the result of the calculations will be the actual X Y coordinates of all the
hole positions
Bolt Circle Drawing Example 1
Bolt Circle Example 2
 Bolt Circle Exercise
• Use the appropriate spot drill and drill to complete the
project for the drawing on the next page
T01 - S2500 P150 F352.0
T02 - S2900 F400.0
• Calculate all Z depths
• Program the spot drill from the first hole at zero degrees
(three o'clock position) in CCW direction
• Program the drill from the last spot drilled hole in CW
direction
• Be very careful with "assumed" symmetry
Bolt Circle Exercise- Drawing
 Calculations Table
Tool 1 Tool 2
Tool Description
Eff. Dia. NA
DPL NA
Speed
Feed
Z Depth
Dwell Time NA
 X,Y Coordinates Table
X coordinate Y coordinate
A
B
C
D
E
F
G